My Planned estimated monthly budget for Thailand

[AlexRRR]

Ahhh mr spade that around my budget, I'm not cheap but we do have a lot of gentleman who trawl the go go's and can drop 20 litres of that amber fluid into that gut in one night, who can't eat anything more than steak or pizza and of course fall in love with bar hostesses who are taking care of sick buffaloes and several extended family's as well as her own 5 kids.

[wprime]

Your £900 equates to roughly 44 thousand baht per month at todays exchange rate, IMO if your careful and don't go overboard then you'll have enough, you might even have enough for the odd night of carnal lust...Good luck..

You might be £60 quid down in April due to a 28 day month, but you should be okay as there will be plenty of free water coming your way...

In Chiang Mai they get the play water from the city moat so you can expect some medical bills for conjunctivitis.

[Soutpeel]

Ahhh mr spade that around my budget, I'm not cheap but we do have a lot of gentleman who trawl the go go's and can drop 20 litres of that amber fluid into that gut in one night, who can't eat anything more than steak or pizza and of course fall in love with bar hostesses who are taking care of sick buffaloes and several extended family's as well as her own 5 kids.

Ahh and what do you say who dont do the things you suggest but are in fact spending a fair chunk of change living a normal life at a standard of living they expect or are used to...

As an observation we seem to be getting a common retort from TV members in this "expenses" bracket, suggesting anyone who spends more than them must be a alcoholic, whore mongering sexpat and this is reason they spend all this money...is this because this is the best retort they can come up with ? or is it because those persons cant afford to be whore mongering sexpat and secretly wish they could be ?...ie they are jealous ?

just saying...

[AlexRRR]

Nope....being sensible for one moment were all different, I live the life I want on a modest 35,000 includes rent and dating I don't burn the candle both ends then there's the ones who live the high life and every one in between.

Lot of people in here like to push a point, others like putting the wind up your arse....then there's the sarcastic pricks...I can be all and I can be none....take 2 panadol with a half glass of water, stop being serious and if you can't join them stop reading this trash, cause mostly it is.....save for when you really need some good advice.

[TheSpade]

or is it because those persons cant afford to be whore mongering sexpat and secretly wish they could be ?...ie they are jealous ?

When you've got more girls phone numbers than there are days in the months that you still haven't gotten round to calling and making plans with you don't care for mongering.

[Soutpeel]

or is it because those persons cant afford to be whore mongering sexpat and secretly wish they could be ?...ie they are jealous ?

When you've got more girls phone numbers than there are days in the months that you still haven't gotten round to calling and making plans with you don't care for mongering.

Why is this ? getting in he way of the 18 hour drinking binges you keep bragging about ? ....

[TheSpade]

I've never bragged about drinking for 18hrs...that would be stupid and not worth bragging about...simply shown an example of how heavily I drink in relation to what I spend every month.

I'm one of the few people in the thread that got into detail of where his money went every month. I broke down a typical week for me and showed what I was spending it in.

Just so guys who might be coming here on a budget can see it IS possible to live on 45k per month or less.

So many different figures getting banded about but very few people breaking down where there money is going so the numbers are useless.

[MrWorldwide]

So many different figures getting banded about but very few people breaking down where there money is going so the numbers are useless.

They're useless anyway - it all comes down to personal vices. Anyone with half a brain can find affordable accommodation - even in BKK - and anyone can catch the Skytrain, but how many of us are teetotallers with zero need for social contact ? How many of us are willing to cook our own meals, night after night, rather than sampling some of the brilliant food available all over Thailand ? How many of us have crystal balls (!) capable of predicting a bout of dengue or a motorbike accident ? I dont know about anyone else here, but I'm not going to sit around watching soap operas when there are other options - if I wanted to do that, why would I leave Australia ?

It's all blue-sky projections : I pump all sorts of numbers into a spreadsheet, double them then add 10%. If I cant come in under that figure when my butt finally lands in Penang next year, there's really only one investment I need to make: an exit bag/nitrogen canister. Absolutely no need for Pattaya high-rise theatrics - messy and dangerous to innocent bystanders

Always have a plan B *and* a plan C

[JLCrab]

With apologies to songwriters Durbin & Warren (1934);

You are here and so am I
Maybe millions of Thai girls go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FvzNeh4Mq1o#t=5

[TheSpade]

So many different figures getting banded about but very few people breaking down where there money is going so the numbers are useless.

They're useless anyway - it all comes down to personal vices. Anyone with half a brain can find affordable accommodation - even in BKK - and anyone can catch the Skytrain, but how many of us are teetotallers with zero need for social contact ? How many of us are willing to cook our own meals, night after night, rather than sampling some of the brilliant food available all over Thailand ? How many of us have crystal balls (!) capable of predicting a bout of dengue or a motorbike accident ? I dont know about anyone else here, but I'm not going to sit around watching soap operas when there are other options - if I wanted to do that, why would I leave Australia ?

It's all blue-sky projections : I pump all sorts of numbers into a spreadsheet, double them then add 10%. If I cant come in under that figure when my butt finally lands in Penang next year, there's really only one investment I need to make: an exit bag/nitrogen canister. Absolutely no need for Pattaya high-rise theatrics - messy and dangerous to innocent bystanders

Always have a plan B *and* a plan C

If you know what your vices are and how much they cost then you can easily plan for them. If you have a lot of vices and no self control though you might be in trouble.

You are correct that no one can predict dengue or motor bike accidents so having some money set aside for a rainy day makes sense.

No need to stay at home being teetotal and watching soaps though.

[Spoonman]

I've never bragged about drinking for 18hrs...that would be stupid and not worth bragging about...simply shown an example of how heavily I drink in relation to what I spend every month.

I'm one of the few people in the thread that got into detail of where his money went every month. I broke down a typical week for me and showed what I was spending it in.

Just so guys who might be coming here on a budget can see it IS possible to live on 45k per month or less.

So many different figures getting banded about but very few people breaking down where there money is going so the numbers are useless.

Ok I'll play the break it down game, note the following does not include frivolous items such as entertainment/clothing/my toys/my motorbikes/my pets etc etc.

I assure you I live a very modest life working 12 hours a day 5 days a week, I never eat out other than buying lunch every day which add's approx 4000 per month.

Home outlay,

Rent – 16000

Electric – 5000

Water - 600

TV – 266

Internet - 650

Macro– 10000 (1st of every month shop inc’s beer)

Food land - 21000 (weekly Shop avg 5k includes 2 cartons of beer)

Missus's daily spendings - 4000 (200b for what ever rancid <deleted> she eats, + top up her/ciggies etc etc)

Total = 57516

Car outlay,

Repayments – 12000

Insurance – 1600

Tyre – 2600

Fuel – 2000 (avg)

Maintenance – Unknown, yet to have first service although had to spend 150k on a new engine.

Total – 18200

Grand total = 75716.

Edited September 16, 2013 by Spoonman

[guzzi850m2]

Ok I'll play the break it down game, note the following does not include frivolous items such as entertainment/clothing/my toys/my motorbikes/my pets etc etc.

I assure you I live a very modest life working 12 hours a day 5 days a week, I never eat out other than buying lunch every day which add's approx 4000 per month.

Home outlay,

Rent – 16000

Electric – 5000

Water - 600

TV – 266

Internet - 650

Macro– 10000 (1st of every month shop inc’s beer)

Food land - 21000 (weekly Shop avg 5k includes 2 cartons of beer)

Missus's daily spendings - 4000 (200b for what ever rancid <deleted> she eats, + top up her/ciggies etc etc)

Total = 57516

Car outlay,

Repayments – 12000

Insurance – 1600

Tyre – 2600

Fuel – 2000 (avg)

Maintenance – Unknown, yet to have first service although had to spend 150k on a new engine.

Total – 18200

Grand total = 75716.

That is a very honest looking budget you have put up there Spoonman, mine is very similar so I took the liberty to just add/delete and then I got mine.

You don't got kids it looks like.

I got a daughter in Phuket, school =140K baht a year.

Son's pre-kindergarten here in Patts= 60K a year and will go further up when starting in 1st class.

Health insurance= 75k baht a year.

True TV gold package, app = 16k baht a year(bastards, highway robbery)

My engine haven't blow up yet but 15K km service today (engine only 5.5k km), =3183 baht

House maid 3 times a week, = 6k baht per month (try getting a Thai maid in Patts for 300 a day, she walks and never comes back)

Rent= 0 , we own our house.

Cutting the grass on the lawn= before 400 baht per pop, I said bullshit and do it myself now= 1 or 2 beers afterwards.

+ some more I don't want to mention here.

No wonder I don't save much money but still app 30% of my incomes goes direct into pension funds in Denmark & Singapore.

When I retire in about 14 years time, my budget have to be waaay less than above or I will quickly go bankrupt.

Maybe sell this house and buy a smaller one up North who knows.

[MrHammer]

I don't really care how much someone living on 35.000 in Bangkok think they live the good life. I know perfectly well what kind of apartment and location that entails.

I am not saying you're not satisfied or living a good life or that you don't get more girls than people on 5 times the budget, but come on, quit making it out like you live a comfortable life comparably to western lifestyles.

A 35.000 budget will give you a small studio apartment with no appliances, no real furniture, mostly a fan not aircon in a location with lots of noise and traffic. I know because I've lived in these places. In Chiang Mai and elsewhere things are cheaper.

Here are some quick stats to see how easily you rack money if you want a minimum of comfort:

Rent: 25000

Electricity: 4000

True TV: 2000

Internet: 1000

Cell: 1000

Transport: 3000

Food in Villa, Fuji, Tops: 10000

Eating out/Ordering in: 5000

Visa costs on average: 3000

Health Insurance: 5000

Alchohol (wine, spirits, beer): 5000

Clothes, shoes, socks etc: 5000

Random stuff breaking: 2000

Thats about 70000 not including expenses on chasing women or a girlfriend. That is the budget I would say would give you a western standard lifestyle.

Of course, if one is willing to accept subwestern standards such as eating chicken left out in the open sun for hours or living with a highway as your neighbor then costs go down.

A lot depends on age and your personality. Living like a bum doesn't mean much when you're early twenties, but the glamour of that lifestyle gets old fast once you become a bit older.

[TheSpade]

I don't really care how much someone living on 35.000 in Bangkok think they live the good life. I know perfectly well what kind of apartment and location that entails.

I am not saying you're not satisfied or living a good life or that you don't get more girls than people on 5 times the budget, but come on, quit making it out like you live a comfortable life comparably to western lifestyles.

A 35.000 budget will give you a small studio apartment with no appliances, no real furniture, mostly a fan not aircon in a location with lots of noise and traffic. I know because I've lived in these places. In Chiang Mai and elsewhere things are cheaper.

I would suggest that you improve your apartment seeking skills next time then. You obviously aren't very good at looking or finding a good deal.

I pay 8k for rent and around 2k for bills.

My apartment has aircon, TV, wardrobe, double bed, desk and chairs, sofa and coffee table, fridge, large balcony, hot shower and everything else you'd expect in a Western apartment.

Wifi is included in my rent, don't care much for TV so need for cable but have around 15 English channels including Fox Moxies, AXN, Foxs Sports, Bloomberg, MTV and BBC News. It's enough for me.

It's 38sq meters, I looked at apartments up to 15,000B p/m and none were bigger than this or had any extra amenities (many were much smaller, i.e. 25sqm, and had less).

There is a pool with a pool side bar & restaurant + 2 other restaurants in the complex as well as a mini mart, 2 laundries, massage place, hair salon.

It's in the centre of BKK in a quiet soi that's 10 minutes walk from one central BTS station, 5 minutes walk from aiport link and 15 minutes walk in other direction to other to another major BTS station.

A two minute walk I'm in a lively area filled with bars, restaurants, shops, supermarkets and more.

I didn't even look hard this was the first place I saw. Looked at a few other places nearbye and in other areas and this was the best I'd seen in terms of facilities and size.

Monthly cell phone cost is 600B. 500B for unlimited internet and 350 minutes of calls then 100B for text messages.

Transport costs are minimal, I walk to the BTS (at 10 minutes to one major stop and 15 minutes to another would be silly not to) and I only take that a few times per week. Rarely take taxis as usually if I go out I'll be out all night until morning and can take BTS home. Otherwise I make people come to me if they want to meet.

Eat out in chain / western / nice restaurants / bars around 3 times a week. La Monita, Dak Galbi, Som Tam Nua, The Londoner, Eat Am Are Steakhouse is examples of places been last few weeks.

I don't need 5k's worth of new clothes every month because I buy clothes that last and if you're breaking 2ks worth of stuff every month I suggest you stop wasting your money on sh*t products that break so easy and I doubt you really need.

I do everything that I want to do - drinking, partying, meeting women, socialising, eating out.

I eat what I want (mix of Thai, Western and other foreign food), go to nice restaurants quite a lot and too frequently shop at Tops & Villa Market.

There's nothing that I'm denying myself.

You can keep telling yourself that people spending 35k a month are suffering or living a poor lifestyle but for me it honestly isn't the case.

I want for nothing and do everything I want to do. I don't care for possessions, gadgets or things so I'm not missing out there. I sold all my possessions years ago when I decided to travel most of the year.

My life is far better here than back home where everything costs an arm and a leg.

Living a cheap yet enjoyable life is VERY easy in Bangkok.

Going back to apartment costs.....

A friend lives 4 minutes walk from a popular BTS area, pays 6k per month for rent and bills, has all mod cons, aircon etc and a pool. Not difficult to find.

I know a place right off the Siam BTS that's super modern and has all mod cons for 9k per month. That's a prime area.

These places are there if you look (or in my case I didn't even have to look much, landed on my feet!).

Edited September 16, 2013 by TheSpade

[Metapod]

My budget is 30-40k per month

Sometimes a little less and sometimes a little more, but as a base cost it is fairly accurate month to month.

[Forkinhades]

"Health insurance will be fully payed up in UK before i go."

And you write for a living?

Apologies, i was under the impression that i was writing on a message board, not submitting a piece of writing for my employer. Get a life, man.

You should be correct wherever you write

[MrHammer]

I don't really care how much someone living on 35.000 in Bangkok think they live the good life. I know perfectly well what kind of apartment and location that entails.

I am not saying you're not satisfied or living a good life or that you don't get more girls than people on 5 times the budget, but come on, quit making it out like you live a comfortable life comparably to western lifestyles.

A 35.000 budget will give you a small studio apartment with no appliances, no real furniture, mostly a fan not aircon in a location with lots of noise and traffic. I know because I've lived in these places. In Chiang Mai and elsewhere things are cheaper.

Going back to apartment costs.....

A friend lives 4 minutes walk from a popular BTS area, pays 6k per month for rent and bills, has all mod cons, aircon etc and a pool. Not difficult to find.

I know a place right off the Siam BTS that's super modern and has all mod cons for 9k per month. That's a prime area.

These places are there if you look (or in my case I didn't even have to look much, landed on my feet!).

Sure bro.

I think though, that if you posted pics, most people would not find those kind of places to be up to standards.

Don't take it the wrong way, I applaud those who can live like that. I can't or won't and fortunately I don't have to either.

[NeverSure]

I don't really care how much someone living on 35.000 in Bangkok think they live the good life. I know perfectly well what kind of apartment and location that entails.

I am not saying you're not satisfied or living a good life or that you don't get more girls than people on 5 times the budget, but come on, quit making it out like you live a comfortable life comparably to western lifestyles.

A 35.000 budget will give you a small studio apartment with no appliances, no real furniture, mostly a fan not aircon in a location with lots of noise and traffic. I know because I've lived in these places. In Chiang Mai and elsewhere things are cheaper.

Going back to apartment costs.....

A friend lives 4 minutes walk from a popular BTS area, pays 6k per month for rent and bills, has all mod cons, aircon etc and a pool. Not difficult to find.

I know a place right off the Siam BTS that's super modern and has all mod cons for 9k per month. That's a prime area.

These places are there if you look (or in my case I didn't even have to look much, landed on my feet!).

Sure bro.

I think though, that if you posted pics, most people would not find those kind of places to be up to standards.

Don't take it the wrong way, I applaud those who can live like that. I can't or won't and fortunately I don't have to either.

But but - The guy is talking about roughly US$1,000 or 630 GBP or 1,100 AUD, roughly.

How well could he live in NYC or Sydney or London on that? Could he even live?

No we don't have to live like that but I applaud him for his choices on that budget.

[MrHammer]

I don't really care how much someone living on 35.000 in Bangkok think they live the good life. I know perfectly well what kind of apartment and location that entails.

I am not saying you're not satisfied or living a good life or that you don't get more girls than people on 5 times the budget, but come on, quit making it out like you live a comfortable life comparably to western lifestyles.

A 35.000 budget will give you a small studio apartment with no appliances, no real furniture, mostly a fan not aircon in a location with lots of noise and traffic. I know because I've lived in these places. In Chiang Mai and elsewhere things are cheaper.

Going back to apartment costs.....

A friend lives 4 minutes walk from a popular BTS area, pays 6k per month for rent and bills, has all mod cons, aircon etc and a pool. Not difficult to find.

I know a place right off the Siam BTS that's super modern and has all mod cons for 9k per month. That's a prime area.

These places are there if you look (or in my case I didn't even have to look much, landed on my feet!).

Sure bro.

I think though, that if you posted pics, most people would not find those kind of places to be up to standards.

Don't take it the wrong way, I applaud those who can live like that. I can't or won't and fortunately I don't have to either.

But but - The guy is talking about roughly US$1,000 or 630 GBP or 1,100 AUD, roughly.

How well could he live in NYC or Sydney or London on that? Could he even live?

No we don't have to live like that but I applaud him for his choices on that budget.

I am not being condescending at all. I am just saying, don't make it out as if you're living in anything resembling first world conditions because you are not. I am not some overpaying moron. I full well know what kind of apartment you get for 6K in Bangkok. If that is something you can live with, then more power to you. I would guess young age also helps in that regard. I slummed it hardcore in my own country before I got some biz going and moved here as well. I am not hating at all, just want to make sure that innocent readers of this thread don't think they will actually get comfort at that price.

[Metapod]

I am not being condescending at all. I am just saying, don't make it out as if you're living in anything resembling first world conditions because you are not. I am not some overpaying moron. I full well know what kind of apartment you get for 6K in Bangkok. If that is something you can live with, then more power to you. I would guess young age also helps in that regard. I slummed it hardcore in my own country before I got some biz going and moved here as well. I am not hating at all, just want to make sure that innocent readers of this thread don't think they will actually get comfort at that price.

What is it you exactly think a 6-8k a month room looks like?

Maybe share some pictures or examples.

Considering I rent a place that costs 7k, I want to see how accurate/inaccurate your assumptions are on the matter.

[TheSpade]

Sure bro.

I think though, that if you posted pics, most people would not find those kind of places to be up to standards.

Don't take it the wrong way, I applaud those who can live like that. I can't or won't and fortunately I don't have to either.

So my apartment has all mod cons and everything I need...yet somehow I should want more?

As stated it also has a pool, pool side bar, 3 restaurants (that deliver to room), mini market, massage place and on site laundry among other amenities....pretty sure I don't know ANYONE back home / in the West who has an apartment with those sort of facilities.

Don't even think places like those exist in my home city or many others in the country.

Live like what exactly? Really well? Because that's how I'm living.

I am not being condescending at all. I am just saying, don't make it out as if you're living in anything resembling first world conditions because you are not. I am not some overpaying moron. I full well know what kind of apartment you get for 6K in Bangkok. If that is something you can live with, then more power to you. I would guess young age also helps in that regard. I slummed it hardcore in my own country before I got some biz going and moved here as well. I am not hating at all, just want to make sure that innocent readers of this thread don't think they will actually get comfort at that price.

You know if I wanted everything to be just like back at home....I'd just stay at home.

The last apartment I had at home was nothing special. Bigger than my current one in BKK but apartments are nearly always small here. Did my apartment back home have a pool etc? Of course it didn't.

So I've got a smaller apartment but much more amenities and value.

I think I'm winning.

What is it you exactly think a 6-8k a month room looks like?

Maybe share some pictures or examples.

Considering I rent a place that costs 7k, I want to see how accurate/inaccurate your assumptions are on the matter.

He said above...

Apparently fan room (lol, don't know anyone in a fan room even the 4k places have aircon), in a slum, next to a motorway, cockroach infested etc etc etc....

Funny isn't it?

Obviously he never has stayed in a lower priced apartment and is just talking sh*t or he's so useless at looking for places and got ripped off paying 8k for a rat infested fan room in the slums somewhere.

Either way clueless.

It's funny to see people tell those of us who are living great lives without blowing tons of money that we aren't comfortable, don't have a good standard of living, aren't enjoying ourselves etc.

I think they are actually reflecting their own experiences even though they are spending 3-5X as much as us they have a miserable existence. Perhaps slightly envious too that we can live the good life without having to splash the cash.

[pilm]

Budgeting down to the last pound.... no way to live. And it will always be more.

44k should be okay. Buy a scooter or motorbike with your savings.

[TheSpade]

If I cut out non essential stuff like those beers for the sake of having a beer, no eating out (just stick to street food / eating at home), avoided going into Tops and Villa Market when hungry (dangerous that!), and just had one night out a week it'd be scary how little I'd spend per week / month actually.

Not likely to do that any time soon but if had to survive on much less than 30-40k a month I think I could. Now that would not be fun but if surviving was all that mattered very possible.

[Naam]

My budget is 30-40k per month

Sometimes a little less and sometimes a little more, but as a base cost it is fairly accurate month to month.

your budget is similar to mine. i usually spend 35-40k a month. my wife spends the other 245-250k a month.

[TheSpade]

And there in lies the reason most people are spending so much, rented gfs, wives who spend all their money and / or a penchant for hookers.

[HardenedSoul]

My apartment has aircon, TV, wardrobe, double bed, desk and chairs, sofa and coffee table, fridge, large balcony, hot shower and everything else you'd expect in a Western apartment.

It's 38sq meters, I looked at apartments up to 15,000B p/m and none were bigger than this or had any extra amenities (many were much smaller, i.e. 25sqm, and had less).

38 square metres??!!

<deleted>

Come on Spade; that's freakin' tiny.

I seem to recall you work from home; I do too so it's bloody important to have a place that's conducive to long hours spent indoors so I'm intrigued as to how you manage it in such a small apartment because I simply couldn't do without the 100sqm I have

[Metapod]

My apartment has aircon, TV, wardrobe, double bed, desk and chairs, sofa and coffee table, fridge, large balcony, hot shower and everything else you'd expect in a Western apartment.

It's 38sq meters, I looked at apartments up to 15,000B p/m and none were bigger than this or had any extra amenities (many were much smaller, i.e. 25sqm, and had less).

38 square metres??!!

<deleted>

Come on Spade; that's freakin' tiny.

I seem to recall you work from home; I do too so it's bloody important to have a place that's conducive to long hours spent indoors so I'm intrigued as to how you manage it in such a small apartment because I simply couldn't do without the 100sqm I have

What on earth do you need 100sqm for if you live alone?

I'm not swinging cats around by the tails. Working at home = sitting at a desk with a computer. Or I take my computer outside and relax in the gardens near or pool.

[poanoi]

 

My apartment has aircon, TV, wardrobe, double bed, desk and chairs, sofa and coffee table, fridge, large balcony, hot shower and everything else you'd expect in a Western apartment.

It's 38sq meters, I looked at apartments up to 15,000B p/m and none were bigger than this or had any extra amenities (many were much smaller, i.e. 25sqm, and had less).

38 square metres??!!

<deleted>

Come on Spade; that's freakin' tiny.

I seem to recall you work from home; I do too so it's bloody important to have a place that's conducive to long hours spent indoors so I'm intrigued as to how you manage it in such a small apartment because I simply couldn't do without the 100sqm I have

 

Guessing i have around 180 m^2 now, but i would prefer 38 m^2, and would also prefer living alone !

even better yet if i had a gogo within 100 meters, on a high floor

Edited September 18, 2013 by poanoi

[HardenedSoul]

18-20hrs a day at ho

My apartment has aircon, TV, wardrobe, double bed, desk and chairs, sofa and coffee table, fridge, large balcony, hot shower and everything else you'd expect in a Western apartment.

It's 38sq meters, I looked at apartments up to 15,000B p/m and none were bigger than this or had any extra amenities (many were much smaller, i.e. 25sqm, and had less).

38 square metres??!!

<deleted>

Come on Spade; that's freakin' tiny.

I seem to recall you work from home; I do too so it's bloody important to have a place that's conducive to long hours spent indoors so I'm intrigued as to how you manage it in such a small apartment because I simply couldn't do without the 100sqm I have

What on earth do you need 100sqm for if you live alone?

I'm not swinging cats around by the tails. Working at home = sitting at a desk with a computer. Or I take my computer outside and relax in the gardens near or pool.

Space is important to me.

Being cramped into what is effectively a shoebox would be depressing.

Even more so when working from home but, hey, if someone can do it, great.

Hence my interest in how Spade does it.

[TheSpade]

My apartment has aircon, TV, wardrobe, double bed, desk and chairs, sofa and coffee table, fridge, large balcony, hot shower and everything else you'd expect in a Western apartment.

It's 38sq meters, I looked at apartments up to 15,000B p/m and none were bigger than this or had any extra amenities (many were much smaller, i.e. 25sqm, and had less).

38 square metres??!! width=20 alt=blink.png>

<deleted>

Come on Spade; that's freakin' tiny.

I seem to recall you work from home; I do too so it's bloody important to have a place that's conducive to long hours spent indoors so I'm intrigued as to how you manage it in such a small apartment because I simply couldn't do without the 100sqm I have

Most apartments in BKK are between 20-30sqm.

Doesn't matter what price you are paying.

Places near 3x as much rent per month as I am paying were no bigger. In fact smaller often.

I get up and work for a bit at my desk or on my balcony or at the coffee table or from my bed....plenty of options.

Then I eat and spend some time at my local coffee shop.

After that I might go to the pool usually not to work but to swim / sunbathe / drink a beer.

If I had more room not sure what I would do with it???

How much room does your computer take that you couldn't live without 100sqm?

I mean I wouldn't say no but it's certainly not essential.

What on earth do you need 100sqm for if you live alone?

I'm not swinging cats around by the tails. Working at home = sitting at a desk with a computer. Or I take my computer outside and relax in the gardens near or pool.

Exactly.

I have multiple places I can sit too.

If I get bored of my apartment I go elsewhere....coffee shop, restaurant, pool, bar etc.

Even if I had a 100sqm place I would get bored just as easy I'm sure.